Handrail and post assembly



Jan. 7, 1969 H. J. JEFFERYS 3,420,505

HANDRAIL AND POST ASSEMBLY Filed June 1, 1967 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR.

Henry J. Jefferys Y B 1%, l m

ATTORNEYS 1811- 1969 H. J. JEFFERYS HANDRAIL AND POST ASSEMBLY Sheet Filed June 1, 1967 INVENTOR.

Henry J. Jefferys A TTORNEYS United States Patent Oflice Patented Jan. 7, 1969 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This inventiOn discloses hollow rail and post structures which may be united to form railings, fences and the like. The hollow rail is of generally inverted U-shape in transverse section and of novel internal structure; and the post is formed by uniting several longitudinal sections, each of substantially the same cross-section providing novel internal interlocking and reenforcing structure. A railing may be formed with these elements by placing the hollow rail over the end of several pickets or posts and then applying inwardly directed pressure to the side walls of the rails, and the assembled railing is secured to a structural element which may be a pillar or post.

Background of the invention This invention relates broadly to structural elements and more particularly to hollow rail and multi-element post structures which may be united to form railings, fences, and the like.

The related prior art to rail and post structures shows, as in US. Patent 3,055,399 to Bush et al., union of a relatively long hollow and generally U-shaped article to another similar article by the provision of means on both articles that permit snapping and hooking of the former onto the latter. Also, US. Patent 1,070,502 to Wyckoff shows the union of several relatively long sections, each of substantially identical cross section, to form a hollow column or conduit. However, the instant invention is neither shown nor suggested in such prior art of which the foregoing is typical.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides a new and improved rail and post assembly characterized by relative ease of fabrication and simplicity of assembly without the use of any connectors such as bolts, screws, etc., which protrude and are unsightly. Further, notwithstanding the unique boltless mode of assembly wherein post members are formed from a plurality of interlocked elements and to which the hollow handrail is permanently lockclamped, the resultant structure possesses outstanding durability and strength. The post extrusions are so configured to provide maximum internal reenforcement, yet are of light weight, easily transported and stored, etc.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent as it is better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brie) description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing an assembled railing embodying the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a section through a post taken at 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a post section shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section showing a modification of the post structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a wedge member;

FIG. 6 is a section, taken at 6-6 in FIG. 1, of a rail before it is secured to a picket;

FIG. 7 is a section, taken at 66 in FIG. 1 of the rail after it is secured to the picket;

FIG. 8 is a section taken at 8-8 in FIG. 7 showing the rail secured at one end to another form of post or other structural element for support;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are sections taken at 99 in FIG. 1 through two forms of extruded pickets adapted for use with the rail; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken at 1111 in FIG. 7.

Description 0 preferred embodiments Referring to the drawings, a railing assembly 10 (FIG. 1) comprises a series of vertical members such as pickets 12 having their upper ends fixed in a hollow horizontal rail 14 and their lower ends fixed in a similar inverted rail 14. The ends of the rails abut a side of a post or other vertical member 15 and are secured thereto directly, as shown in FIG. 1, or through an intermediate connecting device such as a plate 16 (FIG. 8) that is suitably fastened to both the rail and structural element, where element 15 is a solid post or wall section.

Each of the pickets 12 may have any suitable transverse section such as those shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, while the post 15 comprises a plurality of relatively long and substantially identical sections 21 as seen in FIGS. 2-4, each section having a longitudinal web or side wall 22 and inner wall 23 extending inwardly therefrom, relative to the post, and terminating in a hub segment 24.

The post section side wall 22 is preferably formed with beveled edges 26, 27 to permit close abutment with like beveled edges of the side walls of contiguous sections 21.

The Wall 22 may also be provided with a key 31 adjacent its edge 26 and a keyway 32 adjacent its edge 27 so that key 31 of one section may interengage in a keyway 32 of a contiguous section to secure alignment of their abutting edges. The key and keyway may, of course, be of different formations providing their contacting faces are counterparts. For instance, in FIGS. 2 and 3 the keyway is L-shaped, and in FIG. 4 it is U-shaped and also provides an additional locking feature.

Furthermore, the outer surface of wall 22 may be fiat, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or it may be formed with one or more longitudinal ridges or with other formations to enhance the ornamental appearance thereof.

The hub segment 24 at the inner end of wall 23 comprises oppositely directed lateral flanges 36, 37 provided, respectively, with locking and counterpart locking formations 38, 39 so that each section 21 may be assembled with its contiguous sections by longitudinally aligning the end of each locking formation and key on one section With its counterpart formation and keyway, respectively on the other section; then sliding the aligned sections into assembly to form the multi-section post.

The drawings show two forms of locking and counterpart locking formations. In FIG. 4 the locking formation is a radial key 41 on flange 36, and the counterpart formation is a radial keyway 42 formed by the flange 37. In FIG. 2 the key 41 is provided with :a secondary or circumferential key 44, and circumferential keyway 45 which is a counterpart to the secondary key 44.

The keys and their keyways are so dimensioned as to provide a sliding fit between them. To assure retention of the sections in their assembled positions, there is employed a wedge such as a hollow pin 46 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 or a screw, or further a forced-in device such as a suitable soft wire or wooden dowel. The hollow pin wedge 46, for example, is driven into a longitudinal hole 48 in of spring metal, slit longitudinally at 51 and formed with a conical leading end 52. When driven to assembled position, it prevents relative longitudinal movement between the assembled post sections, whereby the post can be handled as a unit prior to assembly with the handrail 14. In the form of the invention seen in FIG. 1, the ends of the rails 14 are abutted against, and secured to a side wall 22 of one section before the other three sections 21 are assembled with it. Furthermore, the open end of such a multi-section post may be conveniently covered by a cap 53 having a central stem 54 which may be driven into the hole 48, and any open end of a rail maybe covered in a similar suitable manner.

The hollow rail 14 (FIG. 6) comprises an exterior longitudinal wall 61 which, in cross section, is of generally inverted U-shaped, terminating toward its open side in opposed wall portions 62, 63 from which longitudinal legs 64, 65 extend inwardly toward each other. Longitudinally extending bifurcated ribs 66, 67, each adjacent the open side of the rail, project inwardly from the wall portions 62, 63. The upper and longer branch of each rib is upwardly inclined and terminates in a relatively sharp edge 73; and the shorter lower branch terminates in an edge 74.

Each of the legs 64, 65 terminates inwardly in mutually interlockable means, such as oppositely directed hooks 68 and 69 having cam faces 71, 72.

A rail 14 is secured to one or more pickets by pressing the elongated wall portions 62, 63 inwardly to the FIG. 7 position. Such inward deforming of the wall portions may be effected by direct pressure on the portions 62, 63 alone, or along with additional force applied to the curved rail portions thereabove. As pressure is applied to the wall portions, the free edges 73 of the ribs are moved into contact with opposite sides of a picket 12 interposed between the ribs, and further inward pressure causes the edges 73 to bite slightly into the picket, then the inclined branches shear or tear back at the edges of the picket flanges, as shown in FIG. 11, and tend to somewhat collapse (FIG. 7), thereby drawing the rail slightly downwardly toward the end of the picket. Simultaneously, the cam faces 71, 72 of the hooks on legs 64, 65 ride over each other, causing one or both of the legs to yield due to resiliency of the material, until the hooks 68, 69 snap into interlocking positions, while the lower wall edges 74 bite into opposite sides of the picket. Then, when the inward pressure is withdrawn, the interlocked hooks prevent resilience of the material from returning the wall portions to their original positions, so the edges 73, 74 remain in secure engagement with the post as seen in FIG. 7. The illustrated X-shaped cross sections of the picket 12 provide a measure of resilience in the picket itself, thereby enhancing a tight, rattle-free fit of the pressed rail onto the picket.

Additionally, a number of panels may extend between adjacent pickets and between the upper and lower rails,

and be similarly clamped by the gripping edges 73, 74. Such panels in addition to any ornamental or decorative effects provided, further insure a tight and structurally sound railing arrangement.

To provide means for securing one or both ends of a rail 14 to supporting means, one or more extruded bosses 75 are formed on the inner side of the rail wall 61, in any desired position or positions. Each of these bosses is formed with a channel 76 of slightly less diameter than a screw, pin or other securing means intended to be driven into the hole to secure the rail in place. For instance, as shown in FIG. 8, an intermediate plate 16 may first be secured by screws 77 to the end of a rail, and then by screws 78 to a pillar, wall or other structural element 15.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ends of the rails are fastened to a multi-section post 15, by first assembling them with one section 21 using screws passed through the wall 22 and screwed into the ends of channels 76 of the bosses 75. The boss is formed with a longitudinal slit 79 to permit the walls of the hollow boss to expand slightly when a self-tapping screw 77 or other securing means is driven longitudinally into the boss. The slit also facilitates extrusion of the rail.

It is thought that the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that changes may be made in the arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Railing structure comprising, in combination:

at least one vertical member,

a hollow rail having a longitudinally extending wall of generally U-shape in transverse section,

said wall terminating in opposed longitudinal wall portions,

longitudinal resilient legs projecting inwardly from said opposed wall portions and toward each other, locking means at the inner ends of said legs for locking said legs together, and

longitudinally extending gripping ribs directed inwardly from said wall portions and into engagement with said vertical member.

2. Railing structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vertical member comprises an extrusion having a generally X-shaped cross section.

3. A hollow rail comprising, in combination:

a longitudinal, resilient exterior wall of generally inverted U-shape in transverse section;

said wall terminating in opposed wall portions at the open side of said rail;

longitudinal resilient legs extending inwardly toward each other from said opposed wall portions; locking means at the inner ends of said legs spaced apart and out of interlocking engagement; and longitudinally extending ribs directed inwardly from said wall portions;

whereby application of inwardly directed pressure to said opposed wall portions forces said ribs into opposite sides of a structural element interposed therebetween, and interlocks said locking means to retain said wall portions and ribs in their inward positions.

4. A hollow rail as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking means on said resilient legs comprises a pair of hooks, one on each of the free ends of said resilient legs, with each hook facing in a direction opposite to the other so that, after said application of pressure, they interlock in their inward positions.

5. A hollow rail as set forth in claim 4 wherein said hooks are each formed with a cam face in opposition to the cam face on the other hook;

whereby, as the hooks are moved into contact, one

with the other, by applied pressure, said cam faces ride over each other, forcing said hooks to move in opposite directions until they snap together into interlocking positions and are retained in interlocked engagement by the resiliency of the rail material.

6. A hollow rail as set forth in claim 3 wherein said longitudinally extending opposing ribs are each slightly upwardly inclined toward the center of said U-shaped wall,

each rib terminating in an acute angled free edge;

whereby said inwardly applied pressure forces the acute angled free edges of the opposing ribs first into biting engagement with opposite sides of the structural element, then causing the inwardly inclined ribs to bend in the general direction of their inclinations as their edges continue to bite into said element until said ribs reach their inward and locked positions.

7. A hollow rail as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least one longitudinal hollow head is formed within the rail 75 on said U-shaped wall to provide for the insertion of means therein for securing at least one end of the rail to another structural element.

8. A hollow rail as set forth in claim 3 wherein said hollow bead is split longitudinally thereby facilitating insertion of said securing means by permitting slight transverse expansion of the bead during the insertion.

9. Railing structure comprising, in combination:

a plurality of spaced vertical members,

upper and lower hollow rails each having a longitudi nally extending exterior wall of generally U-shaped cross section,

said wall terminating at the open end of the U in opposed longitudinal wall portions, longitudinally extending resilient legs disposed inwardly of the terminal edges of said wall portions and projec'ting inwardly of said rail towards each other,

locking means at the inner ends of said legs for mutual interlocking engagement, and,

longitudinally extending gripping ribs disposed adjacent the terminal edges of said wall portions and directed inwardly into clamping engagement with said vertical members.

10. A hollow rail as set forth in claim 4 wherein said longitudinally extending opposing ribs are bifurcated,

the upper branch of each rib being longer than the lower branch and being upwardly inclined toward the center of said U-shaped wall, and

inclined upper branches of the ribs are rupturable,

whereby the inwardly applied pressure moves their edges into biting engagement with a structural element and then causes the inclined branches to rupture and tear back at the sides of the elementengaging portions thereof as the latter bend in the general direction of their inclination.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,427,723 9/ 1947 Hawkins et a1. 256-22 2,431,546 11/1947 Edwards 25622 3,055,399 9/1962 Bush et al 138157 3,125,192 3/1964 Ramseur 52--482 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

25 D. L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

